Precipitation apparatus.



A. E. VANDERCOOIK.

PRECIPITATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 9. 19:5.

Patented May 15, 1917.

INVENTOR. IT RE. v/i/vofificaa/r.

Y M M ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ALBERT E.- VANDERCOOK, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'I'O CALIFORNIA MACVAN G OMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

PRECIPITATION APPARATUS.

' taining the same.

In an apparatus in which the value bearing cyanid solution is passed through shreds or shavings of zinc, there is a tendency for the solution to score or dissolve passages through the zinc which results in the solution flowing unchanged through these passages instead of being diffused throughout the mass of the zinc whereby the valuable metals may be precipitated. It is one of the objects'of my invention to provide an apparatus in which this scoring or cutting of passages is prevented and the pregnant cyanid solution is brought into even contact with a large surface of zinc so that the maximum amount of valuable metals is precipitated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus from which the rich precipitate is readily removed.

The invention possesses, other advantageous features, which, with the foregoing, will be set forth atlength in the following description where I shall fully explain that preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. The novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showingmade by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt many variations Within the scope of my invention as set forth in the said claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of the apparatus of my invention. showing a battery of four precipitatingcones.

Fig.2 is a vertical section-through one of the recipitating cones.

Flg. 3 is a top view of one of the precipitating cones.

The method of precipitating gold from pregnant solutions by means of zinc s well Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1917.

Application filed November 9, 1915. Serial no. 60,611.

known to persons skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, and requires no description here.

Zinc is used in various forms, sometimes as the so-called zinc dust and sometimes in granular, shredded or other finely divided forms. I prefer to use finely shaved or shredded zinc packed in a vessel and then to flow the pregnant cyanid solution through this shredded mass of zinc thus bringing, in an eflicient and convenient way, a very large surface of zinc into contact with the solution which then acts upon it evenly and thoroughly. The solution from which a portion of the values have been precipitated 1s then flowed into a second vessel and the process repeated. As many repetitions as needed to fully extract the gold may be made. y,

The apparatus of my invention preferably consists of a plurality of units through which the cyanid solution flows successively. Each unit or precipitating cone 2 consists of a preferably cylindrical casing 3 at the top of which is arranged the overflow launder 5.

.A conical shaped casing 6 closes the lower portion of the casing 3 and forms an 'annular flange ortledge 7 at that point, upon i which rests a removable perforated plate 8 which separates the interior of the two casings into chambers 12 and 13.

A pipe 14 is threaded into the perforated p ate 8 preferably at the center of the plate and gives communication with the chamber 12 from the outside of the cone. The end of the pipe 14 is 'flared out to a larger opening by means of the fitting 15.

Packed about the pipe in the chamber 1 is a mass of finely shredded zinc 16 and this is held compactly against the perforated plate 8 by .means of a weight formed as a perforated plate 17. Handle rings 18 are provided in the weight 17 so that it may readily be lifted out of the casing or moved about therein. v

A valve 21 in the bottom of the conical casing 6 provides means for emptying the chamber 12.

In operation, the pregnant cyanid solu tion is flowed into the feed chamber 12 through the pipe 14,- the valve 21 being closed. When the feed chamber is filled, the solution rises through perforated plate 8 and percolates through the zinc shreds 16 in the precipitation chamber 13 taking up 18 repeated.

By feeding the cyanid solution downwardly into the center ofthe feed chamber 12, the upward flow through the perforated plate 8 is evenly distributed over the mass of zinc and as the zinc is dissolved and the values precipitated, the weight 17 keeps the mass compact and prevents the formation of channels therethrough. Since the feed is from below upwardly, the solution fills the entire precipitation chamber and acts evenly upon the zinc throughout.

When the zinc has been exhausted the feed of solution running into the cone is stopped and the weight 17 is rotated with downward pressure so that the precipitated values which have not already dropped through pass through the perforated plate 8 into the chamber 12 from whence they are removed through the valve 21.

The Weight 17 together with the pipe '14 and plate 8 may be bodily lifted out of the casing so that it may be cleaned. By lifting the weight clear of the edge the precipitating chamber is recharged with zinc or by removing the fitting 15, the weight may be removed from the pipe 1 1 when it is desired'to separate the parts.

I claim:

1. In a precipitating cone, a feed chamber, a precipitating chamberadapted to contain a precipitant, a perforated plate separating said chambers, and a perforated weight arranged in said precipitating chamber and adapted to compress said precipitant. v j

2. In -an apparatus as described, a feed chamber, a precipitating chamber adapted to hold a quantity of shredded precipitant, a perforated plate lying between said chambers and means for compactly pressing said precipltant against said plate. 7

3. In an apparatus as described, a feed chamber, -means for supplying said feed chamber, a precipitating chamber, a perforated plate separating said chambers, means for compacting the contents of the precipitating chamber and for discharging the precipitate through said perforated plate into said feed chamber, means for removing the precipitate from said feed chamber and means for conducting the overflow from the precipitating chamber.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a conical feed chamber having an outlet at its lower end, a precipitating chamber arranged above said feed chamber, a perforated plate separating Said chambers,

a feed pipe attached to said plate and ex-- tending upwardly through the precipitating chamber and the precipitant therein, a perforated welght surrounding said pipe and resting on the precipitant and an over- 7 flow launder surrounding said precipitating chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 3rd day of November 1915.

ALBERT E. VANDERCOOK.

In presence of H. G. PROST. 

